A man who called the 999 emergency service 59 times only to swear at the operators, and on one occasion pretend to be the Duke of Edinburgh, was given an ASBO when he appeared before Truro magistrates.

Carl Dominic Mackenzie, aged 49, of Brookside, Chacewater, who said he was registered blind, pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive message on August 6; to persistently sending communications on August 13 and 14 causing inconvenience or anxiety; and to using threatening behaviour at Camborne bus station on August 7.

Gail Hawkley, for the CPS, said during a number of calls he made to the 999 emergency service he would verbally abuse the operators, calling them offensive names, and asking to speak to a woman police officer.

When the police saw him he showed no remorse for making the calls and seemed unable to grasp that they had not been emergencies.

On August 13-14, South West Ambulance Trust received 21 calls from him, on one occasion telling them he was the Duke of Edinburgh. He threatened to take an overdose, then said he had a knife and would slit his wrists.

Said Ms Hawkley: “This year alone he has dialled 999 inappropriately 59 times.”

On August 7 he was at the bus station in Camborne in a drunken state, shouting and screaming abuse at the top of his voice. He prevented a bus driver from entering a staff door, his behaviour shocking other members of the public. On that occasion he told police officers: “I need help.”

He had previous convictions.

The magistrates made a community order for a year with an alcohol treatment requirement and supervision and made him subject to an ASBO banning him from calling the emergency services except in a genuine emergency, causing nuisance to the services, and acting in a manner that would cause a person to fear for their safety.

He had to pay £145 costs and surcharge.

During the hearing, Mackenzie suffered a panic attack and was removed from the court while he recovered, which was after a short time.